November 17
Ezek 35:1-36:38 | PS 116:1-19 | Prov 27:23-27 | James 1:1-27
When we walk in faith it is our purpose to open ourselves to Him, to empty ourselves of self. God will do all the work, we simply must position ourselves to receive. Religion is the exact opposite of faith. Religion emphasizes what we must do. It emphasizes our works, our efforts, etc. Time and time again in Scripture it is emphasized that it is the opposite of religion which is true. So when we read His Word, when we worship in song, when we come to Him in prayer, when we listen to messages, etc., the purpose is to render us open to His filling. These are not the various elements of our religious to do list.
Notice who is doing the work as we read in Ezekiel 36:25-29, concerning the future of Israel, "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses...". God will do all the work, the people simply needed to allow themselves to receive His gifts. When we consider James, the half-brother of Jesus it must have been difficult to have Jesus as your older brother. He was perfect, after all. You can imagine the frustration of growing up under the same roof and never quite measuring up to Him. That is why Jesus' half-brother, and His other siblings could not see Jesus for who He was while He was with them. James was present in the upper room in Acts 1:14, and finally realized who he was and who his half-brother truly was, when he came to faith, such that we read the opening statement in James 1:1, "James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,". Yes, as a bondservant, he could accept that which Jesus was offering.
The servant mentality is something which must be cherished by us in the faith, as we read in Psalm 116:16-17, "O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord." It doesn't really matter if you are new to the faith or if you have been walking with God for a long time. Freshness in this walk comes from remaining open to His leading. If we find ourselves getting into the mode of doing, checking boxes, fulfilling our godly obligations, then it is time for a little one-on-one time with the Savior and it is time to re-open ourselves to accept that which He is giving us.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: